4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (20 Sept - Results & Review)

It was always going to be hard for WWE to top last week's blistering season premiere.

Triple H weaved in steel cage matches, a popular Roman Reigns return, Randy Orton helping out Kevin Owens and a brilliant in-ring sign off for Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes. Or, so people thought! 'The Game' liked that midcard feud so much he decided to come right back to it on Friday night's show. That was just one of several bum notes.

There's still a lot to like with the blue brand overall though. Don't let the number of 'Downs' fool you - SmackDown is still heading in the right direction, and major players like Reigns, Rhodes, KO and LA Knight are why. There's something interesting happening over in the women's division too. There's a tasty slice of friction between babyface buddies, for example.

It'd be a lie to suggest this episode matched last week's, but the broadest story beats helped keep heads above water. Going the cinematic route with unlikely tag-team partners worked a treat, and so did ending the night without Owens getting to vent his frustrations about it.

Here's all the good and bad.